Laptops were once the most expensive computer you could get, but now that they’ve become more affordable, it seems that everyone either has one or they’re thinking about getting one. Lots of laptop reviews talk about the latest developments in integrated graphics technology and hard drive capacity, but there’s not always a lot of attention given to the extras.
Category: Hardware
Any posts that pertain to specific hardware, but aren’t being reviewed, can be found under this category.
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Fix: The Settings Saved on This Computer Do Not Match the Requirements of the Network
In some of my posts regarding securing a wireless router, I am occasionally asked about solving the following error message:
The settings saved on this computer do not match the requirements of the network.While I haven’t experienced this error, a quick search online has revealed that it can be a common error to receive when connecting to a wireless network. When solving errors that you receive after making changes, it is important to understand what changes you have made, and how they would affect your wireless connection. While everyone’s wireless network configuration may be different, let’s look at the possible changes that could cause the above error.
Computer Settings Don’t Match the Wireless Network.
There are many settings that you can change within your wireless router. Most routers contain the same settings, such as security type, and encryption algorithm, and it is important that when you change these settings that you also change them within your operating system.
When changing the settings on your wireless network, you must ensure that the settings in your router match those in your operating system. As I mentioned above, all wireless networks will have different settings, but the following list are some settings that you should ensure match between your operating system and your network:
- Ensure that the DHCP settings match. Most home networks would have this set to automatic.
- The security type (WEP, WPA, WPA2) is set properly. For most home users the WPA/WPA2 type will probably be set to “Personal.”
- The encryption algorithm (AES, TKIP) is set properly. Like the security type, this setting can be found within your router.
- The passphrase associated with your wireless network was entered properly in your operating system when connecting to your network.
The above list probably contains the most common settings that could cause an issue when attempting to connect to your wireless network. Ensuring that the settings defined within your wireless router match the network settings defined within the operating system will ensure that you don’t have any connectivity issues.
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Computer Maintenance Beyond Hard Drive Defrag
If you have ever performed some computer maintenance, you have probably done the following tasks: scan disk, delete unwanted files, and defragment the hard drive. These tasks should be done on a regular basis, and preferably automate the computer maintenance process, to keep your computer running as best as it can, and with minimal issues.
What many people probably don’t do is perform computer maintenance outside of the operating system – or even the physical case, for that matter. Some of the most important aspects to computer maintenance happens in the physical environment the computer is running.
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Ipad Vs. Android: Which Tablet is Better?
The Ipad is the one tablet that has set the bar for all other tablets to come. It quickly became the favorite tablet of tech geeks all over the world. Lately, the heat has been turned up as a barrage of new android based pads started to flood the market. They are giving iPad a run for its money. Still, beating the iPad is no short order. That is not to say that a company with the right vision and a great marketing plan cannot compete with, or even beat the iPad in popularity. It will be a lot of hard work though. For now, all surveys and polls have the iPad on top.
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Getting Your Smartphone to Work as a Wireless Broadband Modem
Most Internet service plans for modern Smartphone’s are powerful full-featured services that can handle much more than the light Web surfing that most of us throw at it.
In fact, a mobile’s online access is often robust enough to facilitate an entire home or even small office network. Many of the newest cell phones even come with built-in Wi-Fi hotspots that make using it as a wireless broadband modem as easy as using an actual wireless broadband modem.
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Are Desktop Computers Going the Way of the Dodo?
I remember over twenty years ago my family got their first desktop PC. The computer had an 8088 processor with a speed of 4.77 Mhz, with 640 KB of RAM and a 20 MB hard drive. The graphics card was CGA and was capable of displaying 4 colours on the screen. Eventually the graphics card was upgraded to an EGA card that display 16 colours.
Desktop computers, that we know of today, have been around longer than those 20 years, but recently I have seen people talking about the demise of the desktop computer. With the increased use in mobile devices, the once stalwart desktop seems to be disappearing like the dodo.
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How to Choose a GPS
If you find yourself on the road often then a global positioning system (GPS) could be a wise investment. A GPS uses a satellite to configure a location and then relays the information to you so you can find your way in unfamiliar territory.
Long gone are the days of using paper maps or pulling over at the gas station to ask for directions … that is of course if you have a quality GPS system. Once you do decide to get one, you need to decide what functions to look for to ensure that you get the best GPS for your lifestyle.
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Which to Choose: Laptop or Tablet?
Since the release of the Apple iPad in 2010, growth in this new consumer electronics market has been phenomenal. A number of market research and forecasting firms are predicting the market will grow to 57 million units by 2015.
(1) JPMorgan Securities projects that the tablet market will be worth a whopping $36 billion by 2012. (2) The tablet market has seen competitors to the Apple iPad 2 emerge in recent months.